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Updated September 20, 2021
U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and
Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership
T his report provides the names and appointment provisions for
(SASC) has jurisdiction over the confirmation of IC leadership
selected Intelligence Community (IC) senior officials, as reflected
positions inside the DOD. In some cases (e.g., the Directors of the
in U.S. Code, public laws, executive orders, and custom . Table 1
National Security Agency and National Reconnaissance Office),
also includes the committees involved when Senate confirmation
nominations may be referred sequentially to the SSCI and the
is required. As a general rule, the Senate Select Committee on
SASC, with the order of referral depending on the nominee’s
Intelligence (SSCI) has jurisdiction over the confirmation of those
status as a member of the armed forces on active duty. If the
nominated to IC leadership positions outside the Department of
nominee is a servicemember on active duty, the nomination begins
Defense (DOD) while the Senate Armed Services Committee
with the SASC, if not, it begins with the SSCI.
Table 1. U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) Leadership: Appointment Dates and Legal Provisions
Element
Leadership Appointment Date
Appointment Legal Provisions
Non-Department of Defense (DOD)
Of ice of the Director of National
Director of National Intel igence (DNI) Avril Haines
50 U.S.C. §3026(c) “Not more than one of [the DNI and the
Intel igence (ODNI)
(sworn in January 21, 2021)
Principal Deputy DNI] may be a commissioned of icer of the
Principal Deputy Director of National Intel igence
Armed Forces in active status”; DNI: §3023(a), PDDNI
(PDDNI) Stacey A. Dixon (sworn in August 4, 2021)
§3026(a)(1): presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed
(SSCI).
Central Intel igence Agency (CIA)
Director of the CIA (DCIA) William J. Burns (sworn in
50 U.S.C. §3041(a)(2)(B) DNI recommends; then, pursuant to 50
March 19, 2021)
U.S.C. §3036(a), presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed
(SSCI).
Department of Energy, Of ice of
Director, Of ice of Intel igence and Counterintel igence
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(E&F) DOE Secretary needs DNI to
Intel igence and Counterintel igence
Steven K. Black (March 8, 2013)
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 50 U.S.C.
(DOE/OICI)
§3041(b)(1), DOE Secretary appoints.
Department of Homeland Security, Of ice
Senior Of icial Performing the Duties of the Under
For the position of Under Secretary for Intel igence and
of Intel igence and Analysis (DHS/I&A)
Secretary for Intel igence and Analysis (U/S IA) John
Analysis: 50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(I) DHS Secretary needs DNI to
Cohen (July 2021). As “Senior Of icial Performing Duties
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 6 U.S.C.
of the Under Secretary” Mr. Cohen was neither formal y
§121(b)(1), presidential y appointed, Senate confirmed (SSCI).
nominated nor Senate confirmed.
Department of Homeland Security, U.S.
Assistant Commandant for Intel igence (CG-2) RDML
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(B) USCG Commandant appoints, after
Coast Guard, Intel igence Division
Andrew M. Sugimoto (June 3, 2019)
consulting with the DNI.
(USCG/CG-2)
Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement
Assistant Administrator and Chief of Intel igence Paul E.
Senior Executive Appointments—5 U.S.C. §3151 establishes the
Administration, Of ice of National Security
Knierim (2019)
FBI-DEA Senior Executive Service.
Intel igence (DEA/ONSI)
Deputy Assistant Administrator and Chief of ONSI
Tamara Wiesmann (December, 2019)
Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of
Executive Assistant Director for Intel igence M.A. “Mo”
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(H) Attorney General needs DNI to
Investigation, Intel igence Branch (FBI/IB)
Myers (February 2021)
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §532
note and §2002 of P.L. 108-458, Attorney General appoints.
Department of Justice, National Security
Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mark J.
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(C) Attorney General recommends, after
Division (DOJ/NSD) (NSD is not a
Lesko, (acting, June 2021)
consulting with the DNI; then pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §506 and
statutory element of the IC.)
Matthew G. Olsen (nominated May 27, 2021)
S.Res. 470, 113th Congress, presidential y appointed and Senate
confirmed (Senate Judiciary Committee and SSCI).
Department of State, Bureau of Intel igence
Assistant Secretary of State for Intel igence and Research
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(D) Secretary DOS needs DNI to concur
and Research (DOS/INR)
Victor Raphael (acting, June 15, 2021)
with recommendation; then pursuant to 22 U.S.C. §2651a (c)(1),
Brett M. Holmgren (nominated March 26, 2021)
presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed (SSCI).
https://crsreports.congress.gov
U.S. Intel igence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership
Element
Leadership Appointment Date
Appointment Legal Provisions
Department of the Treasury, Of ice of
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial
Terrorism and Financial Intel igence
Financial Intel igence Andrea Gacki (performing the
Intel igence: 31 U.S.C. §312(a)(2)(A)-(B), presidentially
(Treasury/OTFI)
functions of, January 20, 2021)
appointed, Senate confirmed.
Brian E. Nelson (nominated May 27, 2021).
Assistant Secretary of the Treasure for Intel igence and Analysis:
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intel igence and
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(G) Treasury Secretary needs DNI to
Analysis Michael Neufeld (acting, January 1, 2021).
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 31 U.S.C.
§311(b) presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed (SSCI).
Department of Defense
DOD-Wide
Of ice of the Under Secretary of Defense
Under Secretary of Defense for Intel igence (USD(I)) and
E.O. 12333 §1.3(d)(2) DOD Secretary recommends, after
for Intel igence (OUSD(I)) (Of ice is not an
the DNI’s Director of Defense Intel igence (DDI) Ronald
consulting with the DNI; then pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §137(a),
of icial element of the IC.)
S. Moultrie (confirmed May 28, 2021)
presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed (SASC).
Defense Intel igence Agency (DIA)
Director of the Defense Intel igence Agency (D/DIA) LTG
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(A) DOD Secretary recommends after
Scott D. Berrier, U.S. Army (sworn in October 3,
consulting with DNI; then pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §601(a), as an
2020)
active duty 3-star general, presidential y appointed, Senate
confirmed (SASC).
National Geospatial-Intel igence Agency
Director of the National Geospatial-Intel igence Agency
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(C) DOD Secretary needs DNI to concur;
(NGA)
(D/NGA) Vice Adm Robert D. Sharp (sworn in
then, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §441(b) and §601(a), if civilian—
February 7, 2019)
presidential y appointed, if active duty military—presidential y
appointed, Senate confirmed (SASC).
National Reconnaissance Of ice (NRO)
Director of the National Reconnaissance Of ice (D/NRO)
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(B) DOD Secretary needs DNI to concur
Christopher Scolese, (August 1, 2019)
with the recommendation to the President; and 50 U.S.C.
§3602(a)(2), Director is appointment by the President, Senate
confirmed; then pursuant to S.Res. 470, 113th Cong., Senate
confirmed (SSCI and SASC).
National Security Agency/Central Security
Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director,
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(A) DOD Secretary needs DNI to concur;
Service (NSA/CSS)
NSA/Chief, Central Security Service (DIRNSA/CHCSS)
then, pursuant to S.Res. 470, 113th Cong., presidentialy
GEN Paul M. Nakasone, U.S. Army (sworn in May 4,
appointed, Senate confirmed (SSCI and SASC).
2018)
Service-Level
U.S. Air Force Intel igence (AF/A2)
Deputy Chief of Staf for Intel igence, Surveil ance and
E.O. 12333 (as amended) §1.3(d)(2)—“relevant department
Reconnaissance and Cyber Ef ects Operations,
head” is to consult with the DNI prior to these appointments;
Headquarters USAF (AF/A2) Lt Gen Mary F. O’Brien,
then pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §601 “Positions of importance and
USAF (November 2019)
responsibility,” nominees are presidential y appointed, Senate
confirmed (SASC).
U.S. Army Intel igence (G2)
Deputy Chief of Staf (G-2), LTG Laura A. Potter, U.S.
10 U.S.C. §601(a): “The President may designate positions of
Army (September 2020)
importance and responsibility to carry the grade of general or
U.S. Marine Corps Intel igence (MCISRE)
Director of Intel igence (DIRINT) MGen William H.
admiral or lieutenant general or vice admiral…. An of icer
assigned to any such position has the grade specified … by and
Seely III, USMC (August 2021)
with the advice and consent of the Senate.”
U.S. Navy Intel igence (N2/N6)
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information
Dominance and Director of Naval Intel igence (N-2/N6)
VADM Jeffrey E. Trussler, USN (June 2020)
U.S. Space Force Intel igence (S-2)
Director, Intel igence, Surveil ance, Reconnaissance, U.S.
Space Force (S-2) Maj Gen Leah G. Lauderback,
USAF (August 2020)
Source: CRS, based on provisions in U.S. Code; E.O. 12333; and S.Res. 470, July 7, 2014.
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National Security
IF10538
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U.S. Intel igence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership
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